How do I know when a stick and poke tattoo is infecting or I am getting ink poisoning? I just did it impulsively and I am getting scared… Not really feeling bad I think, just stressing a lot HELP

Hi! i’ve been doing my own pokes since i was 13 (yes lots of bad ones but also good ones) and im almost 20 now, but i would love some more advice on how to make my stick n pokes safer. of course i use steril ink, ink caps, needles, gloves, etc. but i was wondering what else i can do to avoid infections or bloodborne illnesses?

Hey yall!

I've been thinking about writing up a guide/FAQ answering a lot of frequent questions that come up on here.

My own question : do you think people will take the time to read it?

If yes, than I would like to answer questions like

"How can I get cleaner lines?"

"When can I go over my tattoo?"

Safety, aftercare guide

etc.

Feel free to write down questions that should be addressed below :)

Edit : seems like this is a good idea! I'm definitely quite busy these days with work + opening back my tattoo bookings so I'll work on it in my spare time. I'd also like to see with the mods if it'll be possible to pin it at the top of the sub, otherwise it'll simply get lose after a while and it'll be a lot of work to make!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Keep on adding them if you think of anything :)

Hi, so many people are asking for advice on this sub that I think we need a Thread pinned to the top on how to successfully poke a tattoo for beginners.

I'm gonna start with a few basic advices that I find crucial and you can comment more and upvoted them. I will edit this post and add the most upvoted comments to this list.

So here we go:

1. Get proper equipment!

Buy it on Amazon or a tattoo supply shop. Don't use some shady ink or needles or whatnot. It's not that expensive and your tattoo will look immensely better than with India ink and sewing needle. Unless you want the genuine prison style look.

2. meticulously cleaned workplace and equipment

This saves you from infection and other diseases you might get otherwise. DONT REUSE NEEDLES, GLOVES, RAZORS OR ANYTHING ELSE! Put your ink into a cap and throw that ink away after use. Be aware of cross contamination! Wipe the skin down with alcohol AFTER shaving the area. And DON'T USE YOUR PHONE WITH GLOVES ON, GET A NEW PAIR IF NEEDED. don't be greedy and try to save a dollar or two while risking an infection or other disease like HIV. Prepare everything beforehand and don't go running for some paper towels in the middle of tattooing

3. Prepare a stencil that you are happy with!

It takes a huge amount of skill for your tattoo to look better than the stencil. So spend some time drawing and redrawing and perfecting the stencil before you start poking. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE STENCIL NOT THE PREVIOUS DOT! You need more passes on the same line anyways so don't let one misspoke distract you from your stencil! If you keep wiping down your stencil in the process of poking, try using a non alcohol based wiping solution. I use only pH neutral soap with water. And try applying a stencil just for fun to see how much stencil gel you need and how to use the paper. Try wiping it down with different solutions and see what works best for you.

4. Take your time!!!

Most stick and pokes look bad because they are rushed. The cleaner you want your lines to get, the slower you have to poke. Take 1/2 a second for every dot (at least for lines). If it takes too long, take a break. Or continue the next day, or better: after it has healed. That way you can see the end result and redo things you are not happy with.

5. Experiment and learn from others!

Noone can tell you what's right for you. So just try stuff out. Try different angles of the needle. Try different needle sizes. Try different ink. Ask people what ink, needles handposition, stencil gel they use. That's why Most of us post the needle size in the title.

6. STRETCH the skin!

This is one of the secrets to solid lines! That's why some people dont like petroleum jelly, it makes the skin slippery and harder to stretch. Just experiment and see what's works best for you.

7. Don't start with using small needles.

I would say don't go below 5rl. Try to use the biggest needle that fits your design. As you get better you can try 3rl or bug pin needles.

8. Aftercare!

DON'T PICK ON YOUR TATTOO DURING THE HEALING PROCESS! Don't go sunbathing and don't stay in the water for too long. Cover your fresh tattoo with some moisturizing cream after you are done and stick a bandaid on it! Remove the bandaid after 1-3 days and clean your tattoo with pH neutral soap. Keep applying lotion 1 to 2 times a day and LET IS BREATHE. Don't put another bandaid on it.

9. Share your results and what you have learned!

This is why we are all here. To learn from one another. Share your experiences!

NOTE: THERE IS A SHOPPING LIST IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT SUPPLIES TO GET !

OK that's all I can think of for now. Please comment if you want to add anything and I will edit it into this post. ADMINS!! Pin this post to the subreddit!

I am no professional or a doctor so let me say these final words:

I don't know tho.

I typed this guide up for friends but also because the information on this sub is...lacking at times. Please feel free to use or print or share with whoever, I don't care and I'm not looking for credit lol. Apologies for poor grammar or incoherence, I pulled this together half asleep and I welcome any suggestions or additions!

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My Guide on Hand Poke Tattoos

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, I do not have a tattoo license, I am not a professional tattoo artist. The opinions and points made below are mine and mine alone. I have gathered this information through time, experience and a longstanding relationship with my tattoo artist and my spouse who is training to become a licensed tattoo artist.

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Step one in doing a hand poked or stick and poke tattoo is to make sure you have all the necessary equipment. This list includes but is not limited to the items below and not every item on the list is absolutely necessary (squirt bottle, dental bibs) but will make your life easier and is a good investment. I keep a tattoo “kit” in a tackle box with all my supplies available and organized, ready to use. You can purchase all of this online or in store and purchasing it all individually is way cheaper than purchasing a prepackaged “kit”:

\- Gloves

\- Sterilized one time use tattoo needles

\- Actual professional tattoo ink (NOT India Ink which is not in any way sterile)

\- Ink cups

\- Plastic wrap

\- dental bibs 

\-Vaseline

\- Device to hold tattoo needle

\-Self adhesive medical banadage

\-regular scotch tape

- Speed Stick Deodorant (the original, you are looking for the active ingredient “propolyne Glycol and Speed Stick has the highest concentration of it) OR you can use a product specific to transfer stencils to skin.

- Stencil/transfer paper for stencil tattoos

- A&D Ointment (this product specifically, NOT lotion) for immediate aftercare which I will explain further.

\- Paper Towels

\- Disposable one time use razors

This is merely a list to begin with and does not represent everything you might want in your own tattoo kit.

Now to setting up your tattoo station and tattooing yourself or someone else.

It is extremely important to try to keep your environment as clean as possible and the tattoo supplies and site as sterile as possible during your tattoo. This will reduce the risk of infection.

The first step is to set up your tattoo station, choose a spot where you will not be disturbed (pets/kids) and you will be comfortable for multiple hours potentially. Wash the space you are using down, cover with plastic wrap and tape the plastic wrap down. This will be your workspace. On the plastic wrap place one previously unused dental bib (the bib is not absolutely necessary but keeps the work space clean and catches ink drops) and tape the bib down as well.

Lay out the tools you will need around the bib on the plastic wrap, ink cup, ink, needle and needle holder with medical bandage, gloves, paper towels etc. whatever you are going to use get it out on the clean space so you can access it and immediately put away what you no longer need to keep your workspace clean.

If you are doing a stencil I like to do that before all things.

1. Prepare the green soap solution. Green soap is a concentrated disinfectant that is gentle to use on tattoos (you apparently can even use green soap as a shampoo lol). Every single tattoo artist I have ever met has used green soap and there really is no comparison. DO NOT use alcohol to wipe your tattoo in between pokes or a mixture of traditional soap and water, both are going to dry the hell out of your skin while tattooing and are not ideal. Green soap is cheap, lasts a long time and you only need to use a literal teaspoon at a time. I use a traditional tattooist’s squeeze bottle with curved spout with measurements on the side for ease. You mix the green soap in a concentration of 5-8 parts water to 1 part green soap. I add both to the bottle and swirl gently, I don’t shake it. You can purchase green soap online for about 8 bucks for 32oz.

2. Don gloves!

3. Shave the area of your body to be tattooed with a disposable razor. Throw razor away when done.

4. Wash the area to be tattooed heavily with a paper towel and green soap. Do not touch the skin again once it is washed.

5. Once you have your stencil drawn on the transfer paper, remembering you only need the top layer of the paper the rest of it can be thrown away once you have your stencil, apply a liberal amount of Speed stick to the area to be tattooed. Immediately and carefully apply the stencil to the skin. Gently smooth down the stencil in all spots so there is no area missing contact with skin. If the stencil is large you may need two hands or to cut the stencil partway up it to bend it around the body depending on the location of the tattoo. After approximately 10-15 seconds I slowly and carefully peel the stencil up from one side making care not to touch the skin at all. DO NOT immediately wipe the skin down. The stencil needs to set for AT LEAST 20 minutes to effectively stay on the skin. While the stencil is setting you can prepare your tattoo equipment to begin.

6. With gloves on, I prepare my tattoo needle. There is no right or wrong way to prepare your needle as long as you are using a one time use sterilized tattoo needle (NO SEWING NEEDLES). I like to use a special “tattoo stick” that has a notch to hold the needle hoop for stability. I remove the needle from the packaging, place it on the stick and then wrap the needle with medical bandage until it is thick enough to be comfortable for my hand, this aspect is totally up to your personal preference. Some people prefer little to no padding of the needle, some prefer a lot. Cut the medical bandage and set the needle on the dental bib. Throw away the needle packaging and put away scissors and medical bandage. Chopsticks make great “needle sticks” and can be thrown away.

7. Next, with gloves on still, take a dollop of vaseline and place it on the dental bib where you would like your ink cup and then squish the ink cup into the vaseline. This will hold the cup in place while you poke so it doesn’t tip or spill. SHAKE THE INK PRIOR TO POURING. Then carefully open the ink bottle. If the ink bottle is brand new I do nothing but pour the ink. If the bottle is not new, prior to opening I wipe the tip with an alcohol swab. Then carefully and without touching the bottle tip to anything, drip the ink into the ink cup to your desired height, I fill mine all the way so I am not having to dip deeply into the cup. Never let the ink bottle tip touch any surface while dripping the ink in. Put the ink bottle away once ink cups are full.

8. While waiting for the stencil to dry I also pull a paper towel roll into individual pieces and stack them for later use.

9. Now that is has been 20 minutes I check my stencil to see if I need to touch up any areas, I use a surgical pen for this. They can be purchased on amazon and are finer tipped than any sharpie and are made to be used on human skin for medical procedures. If I need to touch up, I let the medical pen ink dry a further 5 minutes if not I prepare to tattoo.

TATTOO TIME!

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1. I carefully and gently wash the stenciled area that is now dry with my green soap solution

2. Rub a THIN layer of vaseline over the stenciled area to tattoo.

3. Begin tattooing! An entire novel can be written on how to correctly do a hand poke and the techniques are as numerous as there are people. A few rules to follow for a successful hand poke though

SKIN STRETCHING!!!

This is extremely important so it gets capital letters. When you are poking you NEED to stretch your skin as much as you can, a three directional stretch is ideal. Use your hands or elbow or whatever you need to get a good stretch during your pokes, it is going to make a world of difference in the quality of your tattoo.

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    \- Always poke at an angle, approximately 45 degrees.

    \- Dip into your ink often, I sometimes count every 3-5 poke but this variable.

-Use paper towels with green soap on it to wipe during your pokes and periodically reapply a thin layer of Vaseline

- When poking the crucial thing is to listen for the “pop”, as you practice you will begin to identify an extremely subtle “pop” noise as you poke which indicates you have gone deep enough. Any deeper = blowouts and blood. The pop is both a feel and a sound and something I cannot adequately explain, you truly have to practice and find it yourself. Pay attention for the pop as it will tell you if you are poking deep enough!

- Another important thing is NOT poking too deep, too deep means blowouts of ink that look sloppy and blurry. Also if you are drawing blood regularly (the odd prick happens) you are poking WAY WAY too deep.

- Skin also gets overworked and will stop taking ink, this varies person to person and while I can only do two passes before my skin just won’t cooperate many others can do more. If the tattoo is very raised or swollen or red it probably needs to be allowed to rest. You can wait 20 minutes and see if the inflammation goes down or wrap up and finish at a later date.

- As you poke, periodically wipe ink away with a green soap paper towel and reapply Vaseline. These are important steps don’t forget these!

- As I work I follow the stencil and work away from body outwards but everyone has their own technique depending on the location and style of tattoo. Do not follow your previous poke dots however, follow the stencil or the image will come out warped.

- Once you are done wash the tattoo area extremely thoroughly with green soap and cover in a light layer of A&D ointment. For larger tattoos in weird places I sometime like to cover the tattoo for up to two hours with plastic warp after using the ointment. However, small tattoos I tend to leave uncovered.

AFTERCARE

Aftercare of your tattoo is extremely important as a tattoo is essentially an open wound on your body that can become infected. Some basic aftercares rules (you can find good rules anywhere online also): 

1. DO NOT COVER, at most you should cover your tattoo for up to two hours following having it done. Otherwise a tattoo needs to breath. Also do not cover it with an actual bandage. If you do cover it for any length of time (which again no more than 2-3 hours) use plastic wrap and cover it gently.

2. A&D ointment is your new best friend. Apply the ointment periodically throughout the day with clean washed hands to just cover the tattoo for the first two days of healing. Too much ointment and you will float the ink and damage your tattoo.

3. Wash your tattoo 1-2 times daily with a gentle, non-scented hypoallergenic soap. Or use green soap!

4. After 2 days of using A&D ointment switch to keep your tattoo moisturized with a gentle unscented moisturizer. I like Cerave myself. Keep your tattoo from drying out for a couple of weeks while it fully heals and voila! Tattoo!

5. Keep an eye on any signs of redness or swelling that last or become tender and painful both of which are signs of infection. Familiarize yourself with signs of infection and keep an eye on your tattoo. Treat it like you would any other wound that needs to stay clean.

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Ultimately hand poked tattoos are never going to look like a machine done tattoo but they have a unique and beautiful style all their own. Tattooing has existed for essentially as long as humanity. As long as you take precautions and use appropriate equipment the risk of infection is quite low! Happy poking!

Hi! So I’m very new to the tattoo scene (don’t even have my first tattoo yet — i will in a week), but I have an extensive art background. I’ve recently been very very keen on the idea of giving myself (and some friends, if they want) some small simple stick and poke tattoos.

I’m mostly wondering about the activation energy required for this kind of thing. Is it really as simple as buying the right equipment, then… sticking and poking? I’m assuming I should get some fake skin to practice on first, what do folks think?

Sorry if the question is silly, I’m new here!

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